Computing even-balance scale.



No. 673,834. Y Patented my 1901. l

E. FINN.

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E FINN COMPUTING' EvEN'BALANce scALE.

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vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN FINN, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STIMPSON COMPUTING SCALE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COMPUTING EVEN-BALANCE SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,834, dated May' 7, 1901.

Application filed December 27, 1897. Serial No. 663,583. QNO mdel--l To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWIN FINN, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana,

have invented a new and useful Computing Even-Balance Scale, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to even-balance scales, and particularly to scales of this class which ro are providedwith means of rapid computation.

One object of my invention is, first, to afford a means for greatly econo'mizing the cost'of manufacture of scales of this class.

I5 A further object of my invention is to simplify the computing even balance scale whereby its operation will be more perfect and the cost of construction shall be reduced.

In the manufacture of even-balance scales zo itis of course of a most vital consequence that the opposite ends of the balance beam or lever shall exactly counter-balance. Where the use of a scale is such that an absolutely uniform distribution of the weight at oppo- 2 5 site ends of the balance-beam may be provided for, the problem of producing the perfect counterbalance is a very simple one; but where, as in the case of the even-balance scales in general use, provision must be made 3o for the unequal distribution in thescoop, on the one hand, and on the weight-platform, on the other hand, of the superposed weight thereon it is found necessary to exercise the minutest care in adjusting the parts, so that in all conditions of'nse an exact balance may be produced. It is common in scales of this kind, known as Robervals balance, to extend the stems which support the scoop and the weight-platform, respectively, at each end 4o of the balance-beam, rthe length of this stem being the exact length of the balance-beam between a point in' the vertical line of the center of the scoop or platform and the fulcrum of the balance-beam, and the lowerend Y of this stem is connected by a vtier-:rod with a fixed point in the frame of the scale in the exact vertical plane of the fulcrum. The effect of this extension of the stem and its connection throughy a tie-rod with the fixed point 5o named in the scale-frame is to insure absolutely parallel movement thereof and to equalize the leverage of all points on the scoop-platform or the weight-platform. lt will be Obvious that the leverage of a weight at the outer edge of the weight-platform will normally be greater than the leverage of a weight at the inner edge of the platform; but by the arrangement mentioned this is equalized. It is found in practical manufacture of scales embodying this feature that perfect 6o accuracy in the formation of the square having its four points in the fulcrum, in the fixed point below the fnlcrum, in the end of the stem, and in the stern in the plane of the fulcrum cannot be produced in all instances or even usually by the employment 0f measuring instruments. It is therefore the practice to make the stem of a trifle less than the intended length, to supply its lower end with means for connection with the tie-rod, to se- 7o cure the upper end to the scale-beam, and then by gently hammering upon the stem to lengthen the same until the actual test of the scale, with the weights at whatever points on the platform, proves a perfect balance to be 7 5 effected. lf through accidentor carelessness the stem be made too long by this hammering, manifestly the work theretofore done upon it is wasted. lt is a fact that the time and trouble involved in producing the perfect balance is 8o entirely out of proportion to the time and trouble involved in building the scale. The leading feature of my invention is to render this loss of time and the trouble involyed in lengthening the stem unnecessary and also to render unnecessary the waste of stems which may have been made too long in the effort to effect the balance. This feature of my invention is accomplished by giving to the stem at some point in its length, and preferably at its 9o lower extremity, a curved or angular form, the lower end of the curve or angular part, which may be described for brevity as a bow, beingin the same vertical plane as the center of the platform. In this manner the stem is actually longer than the distance in a vertical line between its upper and lower extremities, while by increasing or reducing the bow the distance between the upper and lower extremities of the stem in a Vertical line may loo be reduced 'or increased as little orvas much as may be desired. By reason of the bow,

moreover, it is possible very easily to rectify any slight error in the length of the tie-rod, although this is not usually necessary if, as has sometimes been done, the fixed point at the inner end of the tie-rod be capable of vertical and horizontal adjustment.

It may here be stated that it is not essential that the curvedl form be employed for the purpose of increasing the length ofthe material of the stem, any other form suitable to this end being Within my invention.

- In computing even-balance scales it has heretofore been the practice to separate the Weight-'indicating beam from the computing-A frame, the weight-indicating beam carrying the poise and the computing-frame having a marker thereon, with numbers design ating in v dierent planes the pound-price, which is the multiplicand in the computation. By my-improvement the weight-indicating beam forms part of the computingframe, andA in fact 4each edge of the com puting-frame, this frame being revoluble on journals at opposite ends thereof, constitutes a combined Weight-indicating and computing beam andthe computin g-marker takes the form of the sliding poise.

My invention consists,further,in the details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, all as hereinaftermore fully set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of an even-balance scale provided with my improvements, taken on the line 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 2 of Fig. l. Fig.

3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a bottom broken sec'- tional plan view on the line 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a vertical transverse section on the line 5, Fig. 3, illustrating one of the bearings; Fig. 6, a broken plan view of the central portion of the balance-beam, showing a receptacle to receive material for perfecting the gravitybalance; and Fig. 7, a section taken on line I of Figs. 6 and 2.

A represents the hollowbase of an evenbalance scale, having at opposite ends in its upper face the perforations s to receive the stems and having in its center and preferably screwed or riveted.thereto the upwardexte'nding arms B, terminating in their opposite extremities in the fulcrum-bearings C. Fulcrumed in the bearings C in the manner presently shown is thev balance-beam D, the design of which is a matter of choice, and which balance-beam has near each extremity theopposite bearings E, whichfsupport the scoop-platform and the weight-platform, re-

spectively. Extending in the same general direction from each end of the balance-.beam D are bracket-arms F. These arms support the combined weight-indicating beam and computing-frame in a manner presentlydescribed. The fulcrum-bearings at() andthe platform-bearings at E are knife-edgebearings. The platform-bearing is illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 and compri'sesthe outwardextending fixed knife-edge 'r and the bearing-,block r', having in its under face the V- shaped recess shown. The upper face of the bearing-block is provided with a round vrecess r3 and receives and supports the platform-base @which is provided with a conical lug or projection r4,resting in the recess. The bearing for'convenience is covered with the angular plate T5, as illustrated in the figures. In the case of the fulcrum-bearing at C substantially this arrangement is employed,with the difference that the knife-edges are downturned, while the bearing-blocks (carried by the arms or standards B) have the V-shaped recesses in their upper faces.

The outward-extending ,bracket-arm F at one end of the balance-beam is provided with the cup-shaped recess p and the perforation p. The bracket-arm F at the opposite end of the balance-beam has its extremity centrally perforated, as indicated at p2. The weight-indicating beam is in the'form of two parallel bars G Gr. Each bar G G' has toward its in nerL extremity a stud o. Embracing both parallel bars Gr G' and 'adapted to slide thereon is. the weighted poise H. This poisehas index-spurs projecting from one side thereof, and at each spur is a figure representing a multiplicand. The bars G G' are joined at opposite ends by vertical bars 'n n', which, With'the bars G G', forma perfect rectangularparallelogram. Projecting outward. from the side n of the' frame is a pin 103, which enters the perforation p' in the bracket F and is surrounded by the spring p4. The opposite side of the frame has a centrally-projecting pin p5, terminat- IOO ing in the head p, from the center of which spending tothe spurs m on the poise It also has the Weight-markings along the upper line on each side. in computing-scales, has each line thereon marked with spaces and figures, giving the product obtained by multiplying the multi- IIO This card, as is usual plicand, or pound Value of the article weighed, by the multiplier obtained from the weight L indicated on the tare-beam. It is usual to ymark both faces of the card with computingscales,which in practice indicate the products on the basis of prices below twenty cents per pound on one side and'above` twenty cents per pound on the otherfand the poise H has c marked upon its face on one side the multiplicands exceeding twenty centsand on the f other side the multiplicands below twenty cents. In Fig. 2 the poise H is shown'supplied with price-indicating characters. 20,

Y 30, and 40, and the card I with weight-v indicating divisions ranging from one-.twentieth of apound to two pounds. Opposite each price-indicating character and adjacent.-

to selected weight-indicating, divisionsv yare 'placed computations. Thus, opposite the price-indicating character and adjacent to the weight-division indicating one-fourth of a pound occurs the figure 5, indicating the cost of one-quarter of a pound at twenty cents per pound. I have not deemed it necessary in the drawings to show both sides of the poise H, as the revoluble computingframe is, as such, not new. In no even-balance scale with ywhich I am familiar, however, has it heretofore been deemed practicable to utilize either or both of the bars G Gr as the weight-indicating poise-beam, and to cause the poise H to serve the purpose of the sliding indicator on the computing-scale.

As heretofore explained, it is essential in the so-called Robervals balance, such as the even-balance scale to which my invention is directed, that the lines a, Fig. l, shall be exactly parallel, that the lines a a shall be exactly parallel, and that the lines b shall be exactly parallel with the lines o. and exactly bisect the lines a. 'In practice it is usual to secure to the base of the scale an arm K, the extremity of which, as indicated at l, is in the exact vertical line below the fulcrum l of the scale-beam D and the exact distance downward 'therefrom that the center of the weight-platform is laterally from the fu'lcrum. It is usual, also,to extend the stems L L downward from the scoop-platform and Weight-platform to a point in the exact horizontal plane of the end Z of the bracket-arm K and to connect the end Z2 of. the stem L L' with the extremity Z of the bracket K with a tie-rod L2. It is vital, however, that in this mechanical construction of the four sides of the parallelograms perfect squares shall be produced, and it is found that it is entirely unsafe to rely upon mechanical measurements to insure perfect accuracy in this regard. It has already been explained that the practice heretofore has been to lengthen the stem L L by hammering thereon until a test made by placing the weight at various points on the weight-platform and on the scoop-platform shows that absolutely perfect balance in all positions of theweight is obtained. It

curvature at 7a, with the result that any inaccuracy in the stem L L' may quickly be corrected to change the location of the extremity of the stem where it is secured to the tierod L2 in eithera vertical or horizontal plane. It will be obvious that the curve k may be located elsewhere in the stem than at' the extremity and that the shape of the curve or With a bent portion is immaterial,so long as it results in giving to the stem a greaterlength, in fact, than the distance between its upper and lower extremities.

It is necessary to have the center of gravity of the balance-beam in the line of the knifeblade edges of the bearings at C. Otherwise the sensitiveness to movement of the beam is destroyed to a more or less extent or it will move so readily as to dive, making it quite impossible to bring the scale to a balance. To bring the center of gravity to the line of the knife-blade edges, it has been usual hitherto when adjusting the scale to wear off the knife-blade edges, usually with emery or the like, until the desired result is obtained. This poured or placed and increased or diminished in quantity as desired to give a perfect gravity-balance. One or more such receptacles may be employed and located in any desired position or positions on the scale-beam. Thus instead of perfecting the gravity-balance by the slow and unsatisfactory process of wearing off the hardened knife -blade bearing edges I obtain the same result in a more satisfactory manner by adding to or taking from the metal in the receptacle or receptacles P. Thus, broadly stated, I produce the perfect gravity-balance by the adjustment of weight in proper location on the scale-beam instead of changing the knife-blade bearing edges.

Many details of the even-balance scale here shown are so common as to require no special description-as, for example, the indicator M, mounted upon the balance-beam, and the cups N N, which receive soft metal N and constitute the bases of the scoop-platform and weight-platform, respectively.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a Roberval or even-balance scale, the combination with the balance-beam and its fulcrum and the lower tie-rods and their fulcru`m, of the stems joining the balance-beam and tie-rods, and means for varying the distance between the extremities of the stems consisting of a bend in each stem capable of being increased or diminished, said bend being located in the body of the stem between the pivotal points thereof.

2; In a Roberval or even-balance scale, th combination with the balance-beam and its fulcrum 'and the tie-rods and their fulcrum, of the stems connecting the balance-beam and tie-rods, and means for varying the distance betweenthe extremities of the stems consisting of a bend in each stem toward its lower extremity capable of being increased or diminished, said bend being located in the body of the stem between the pivotal points thereof.

3. In an even -balance computing-scale, the combination of a base provided with central balance-beam bearings, a balance-beam IIO mounted centrally of its length on said bearings and provided at its ends with platformbearings, load and weight platforms mounted on said platform-bearings, brackets projectinglaterally from said balance-bean1,a readilyremovable revoluble beam G G n n provided with pivotal studs at its ends, said beam being capable lof longitudinal movement between said brackets, a spring holding said beam normally against longitudinal movement, a cardl in said' revoluble beam provided with cost computations, and a poise sliding on said revoluble beam and provided with price-indicating characters, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an even-balance scale, the combinal tion with a base provided with bearings, a

balance-beam pivoted centrally of its length on said bearings and provided at its ends with platform bearings, and a receptacle at the center of said beamvfor receiving gravity-center-adjusting material, said receptacle having its location between suchhorizontal planes and such vertical planes that the center of gravity of the beam may be raised or lowered by removing or adding material and without center of gravity to a higher plane and toward the plane of the beam-fulcrurn knife-edges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EDWIN FINN.

In presence of-p M. J. FROST, R. T. SPENCER.y 

